When a tooth has a small cavity, a chipped edge, or a little gap that's always bothered you, the fix doesn't need to be dramatic. At our Kentfield office, Dr. Soroush Ghaffarpour ("Dr. G") uses tooth-colored composite to restore and refine teeth with a light touch — preserving as much natural enamel as possible while blending the repair into your smile. It's the kind of quiet, conservative dentistry that Marin patients return to us for, carried out with the same aesthetics-first eye we bring to every treatment — and carrying forward the 47-year legacy of founding dentist Dr. John Herschleb right here in Kentfield.
What are tooth-colored fillings and dental bonding?
A tooth-colored filling repairs a tooth damaged by decay. After gently removing the cavity, we rebuild the tooth with composite resin — a durable, tooth-shaded material that bonds directly to your enamel. Because it's color-matched to the tooth beside it, the repair blends in closely, without the dark line a silver (amalgam) filling can leave over time. The composite fillings we place are completely mercury-free.
Dental bonding uses that same composite resin for cosmetic touch-ups rather than decay. Working freehand, Dr. G shapes and polishes the resin directly onto the tooth to repair a chipped corner, close a small gap, smooth a worn edge, lengthen a short tooth, or help mask a stubborn surface stain. Both are among the most conservative treatments in dentistry: they typically require little to no tooth reduction, often need no anesthetic for purely cosmetic work, and are usually completed in one comfortable visit at our Kentfield office. For everyday repairs on front or back teeth, they're a mainstay of the conservative, aesthetics-first care Marin patients come to us for.
How we do fillings and bonding at Kentfield Dental
Good composite work is equal parts dentistry and artistry — the difference between a filling you notice and one you forget is in the shade selection, the layering, and the final polish. Dr. G approaches every restoration the way he approaches cosmetic cases: matching the translucency and color of your natural tooth, sculpting anatomy that feels right when you bite, and polishing to a finish designed to resist staining. For anything beyond a simple repair, our in-house digital tools let us plan the result before we touch the tooth, so there are fewer surprises. And because care should feel calm, we take an unhurried, comfort-focused approach for anxious patients — explaining each step as we go. It's the difference a boutique, fee-for-service practice can offer: time, attention, and a single dentist who knows your smile.
- Mercury-free, BPA-conscious composite resin, shade-matched to your surrounding teeth for a repair designed to blend in
- MouthWatch intraoral cameras put your tooth on the screen, so you can see the decay or chip we're treating and understand exactly why
- 3Shape digital intraoral scanning captures your bite without goopy, gag-inducing molds when records are needed
- A soft-tissue dental laser is available to gently manage the gumline for clean, precise margins near the edge of a restoration
- For larger breakdown where bonding isn't enough, we can step up to a CEREC same-day crown — designed, milled and placed in one visit on our Primescan 2 scanner and Primemill mill, with no temporary
Why patients choose us for this
Natural, blended results
Composite is color-matched to your natural tooth, so a filling or bonded repair is designed to blend in seamlessly — no dark metal line, no obvious patch.
Mercury-free and conservative
Our composite fillings contain no mercury, and bonding adds material rather than removing it. We aim to preserve as much healthy enamel as possible, in keeping with our conservative philosophy.
Often one comfortable visit
Most fillings and bonding cases are completed in a single appointment at our Kentfield office — and many cosmetic touch-ups need no anesthetic at all.
Helps support and protect the tooth
Composite bonds directly to enamel, sealing out bacteria and helping support the remaining tooth structure rather than just plugging a hole.
A lower-commitment cosmetic option
Because bonding typically requires little to no tooth reduction, it can be a lower-commitment way to explore a cosmetic change before considering veneers.
Cost-effective for small fixes
For chips, minor gaps and small cavities, bonding is often one of the most cost-effective ways to make a meaningful difference to how a tooth looks and functions.
What to expect
Consultation & shade matching
We examine the tooth, often using our intraoral camera so you can see it on screen, then select a composite shade to match your surrounding teeth. For decay we'll confirm the extent; for cosmetic bonding we'll plan the new shape together.
Gentle preparation
For a filling, we comfortably remove the decay and clean the area. For purely cosmetic bonding, little to no tooth reduction is usually needed — and often no anesthetic at all. We keep you informed and comfortable throughout.
Bonding & sculpting
Dr. G applies the composite in layers, shaping it to rebuild natural tooth anatomy, then hardens it with a curing light. This is where artistry matters — building the translucency and contour that help it look and feel like your own tooth.
Finishing & polish
We check your bite, refine the contacts, and polish the restoration to a smooth, stain-resistant shine. You leave the same visit with a repair designed to blend right in — and we'll review simple care tips to help it last.
Your comfort matters. Cosmetic bonding is among the gentlest treatments we offer and often requires no anesthetic; for fillings we gently numb the area first. Our unhurried, comfort-focused approach and step-by-step explanations are designed to put anxious patients at ease.
Is this right for you?
Tooth-colored fillings and bonding are a great fit for the everyday repairs that make up so much of dental care — a new cavity, a chip from biting something hard, a small gap that's always caught your eye. They work well on front and back teeth alike. For more extensive decay, a cracked or heavily worn tooth, or a full smile makeover, a same-day crown or porcelain veneers may give you a stronger, longer-lasting result — and Dr. G will tell you honestly which option suits your tooth. The best way to know is a quick look in our Kentfield office, where we'll show you what we see on screen and walk through the choices together.
- You have a new or small cavity you'd like treated discreetly, with no metal
- You want to repair a chipped, cracked or worn front tooth
- You'd like to close a small gap or reshape a tooth without orthodontics or veneers
- You have an old silver/amalgam filling you'd like replaced with a tooth-colored one
- You prefer the most conservative option that preserves your natural tooth
Frequently asked questions
Yes — the composite fillings we place at our Kentfield office contain no mercury. They're made of a tooth-shaded resin that bonds directly to your enamel, restoring the tooth without the metal of a traditional amalgam filling.
Dental bonding commonly lasts several years to a decade or more, depending on the tooth, your bite, and your habits. Composite can chip or stain over time, but it's usually easy to polish or touch up, and avoiding habits like biting nails or ice can help it last longer.
Most patients are very comfortable. Cosmetic bonding often needs no anesthetic at all, and for fillings we gently numb the area first. We take an unhurried, comfort-focused approach and explain each step, which many anxious Marin patients find reassuring.
Yes. Many patients ask us to swap aging silver (amalgam) fillings for natural-looking composite. We'll evaluate each tooth first — if a filling is large or the tooth is cracked, a same-day crown may be the longer-lasting choice, and Dr. G will advise you honestly.
It depends on the chip. Bonding is the most conservative, often single-visit option for small chips and is a great starting point. For larger damage, deep staining, or a full smile change, porcelain veneers may offer a more durable, color-stable result. We'll review both options with you in our Kentfield office.
Yes, in most cases. Composite fillings and bonding are typically completed in a single appointment at our Kentfield, Marin office. Larger restorations that need a crown can often still be finished the same day thanks to our in-house CEREC technology.
Yes — that's the point of composite. We shade-match the resin to your surrounding teeth and polish it so the repair blends in and is hard to spot, even on a front tooth. There's no dark metal line the way an amalgam filling can leave over time.